Right handed hitting on the Reds

[Kc61]

Right now, I don't think the Reds have enough right handed hitting to contend. I guess if they pick up Bedard, Lincecum, and Santana they can compete anyway, but this team really needs some righty bats.

With Cantu gone, the team has Phillips and EE. That's just about it. Ross, Gonzo, Hopper, Freel, Keppinger, not exactly a murderer's row from the right hand side.

Reds' OPS against lefties last year was .732 one of the worst in the NL.

I've never liked lineups that are too left handed because they tend to be susceptible to late inning lefty relief. Some of the Reds lefty bats hit lefties ok, but there is no substitute for some real right handed pop.

I still can't understand the decision to dump Cantu. In this master plan Wayne is cooking up I hope there are one or two right handed bats on the way.

[corkedbat]

Originally Posted by Kc61

Right now, I don't think the Reds have enough right handed hitting to contend. I guess if they pick up Bedard, Lincecum, and Santana they can compete anyway, but this team really needs some righty bats.

With Cantu gone, the team has Phillips and EE. That's just about it. Ross, Gonzo, Hopper, Freel, Keppinger, not exactly a murderer's row from the right hand side.

Reds' OPS against lefties last year was .732 one of the worst in the NL.

I've never liked lineups that are too left handed because they tend to be susceptible to late inning lefty relief. Some of the Reds lefty bats hit lefties ok, but there is no substitute for some real right handed pop.

I still can't understand the decision to dump Cantu. In this master plan Wayne is cooking up I hope there are one or two right handed bats on the way.

When they first drew up the GAB way back in the day, we heard how it was going to be heaven for LH hitters and they started drafting LH Power to take advantage of it. [Kinda makes you wonder why they didn't put the same kind of effort into drafting/developing/acquiring LH starters to counter the oppositions LH bats in the GAB?]

Problem now is LH pitching gives us fits and 81 games aren't played in the GAB.

I've said all along that a RH 4th OF/PH with more pop than Hopper or Freel should be the 3rd priority for the club this offseason after the rotation and bullpen/closer issues were addressed.

I'd love to see WK come up with a young RH OF along the lines of Guillen or Juan Encarnacion when Pants acquired them.

[Blitz Dorsey]

Originally Posted by Kc61

Right now, I don't think the Reds have enough right handed hitting to contend. I guess if they pick up Bedard, Lincecum, and Santana they can compete anyway, but this team really needs some righty bats.

With Cantu gone, the team has Phillips and EE. That's just about it. Ross, Gonzo, Hopper, Freel, Keppinger, not exactly a murderer's row from the right hand side.

Reds' OPS against lefties last year was .732 one of the worst in the NL.

I've never liked lineups that are too left handed because they tend to be susceptible to late inning lefty relief. Some of the Reds lefty bats hit lefties ok, but there is no substitute for some real right handed pop.

I still can't understand the decision to dump Cantu. In this master plan Wayne is cooking up I hope there are one or two right handed bats on the way.

I'm sorry, did you say Bedard, Lincecum AND Santana? You either need to put the pipe down or pass it over here.

That out of the way, I agree we need another right-handed bat. I am hoping Krivsky finds a hidden gem like he did with Hatteberg two years ago. We need an OF with some pop to come off our bench and start here and there to give Griffey, Hamilton some rest. With Keppinger, he can back up 3B, SS, 2B and 1B. Then we have Hopper off the bench in the OF. Both good right-handed hitters, but no pop. We need someone else with a little power IMO.

[Kc61]

Originally Posted by Blitz Dorsey

I'm sorry, did you say Bedard, Lincecum AND Santana? You either need to put the pipe down or pass it over here.

That out of the way, I agree we need another right-handed bat. I am hoping Krivsky finds a hidden gem like he did with Hatteberg two years ago. We need an OF with some pop to come off our bench and start here and there to give Griffey, Hamilton some rest. With Keppinger, he can back up 3B, SS, 2B and 1B. Then we have Hopper off the bench in the OF. Both good right-handed hitters, but no pop. We need someone else with a little power IMO.

At minimum, the Reds need a righty hitter to play first or outfield against lefty pitchers. At maximum they need to move Hammy or Votto for pitching and replace him with a right handed starting player.

[missionhockey21]

Originally Posted by Kc61

At minimum, the Reds need a righty hitter to play first or outfield against lefty pitchers. At maximum they need to move Hammy or Votto for pitching and replace him with a right handed starting player.

Kevin Mench and his .900+ career OPS versus lefties says hi.

Brewers designated outfielder Kevin Mench for assignment.
Mench, who was nearly certain to be traded or non-tendered, gets bumped from the roster a couple of days early to make room for Salomon Torres. Since he'll still likely be Brewers property then, he probably will be officially non-tendered on Wednesday.

[KronoRed]

I think Phillips and EE is just fine, it isn't like Dunn, JR, Hamilton, Votto and Bruce have no prayer against left handers.

A bench righty would nice, but no need to make any big trades for one.

[Reds/Flyers Fan]

Garret Atkins? His name has been missing from trade discussions this offseason, but with Ian Stewart already ready for 3rd base, and Baker also able to play 3rd in Colorado, I wonder if it's doable. Dan O'Dowd apparantly said earlier this offseason that GA is off the table, but who knows? I'd love to see him in Cincinnati. Then EE could be shipped off to Baltimore. Or Oakland.

[Ron Madden]

I believe the biggest problem the Reds have had vs LHP the past few years begins with the Manager.

Far too often Boone, Miley and Narron penciled inferior players into the lineup just because they hit from the rght side of the plate. (Often in spots 1-5 in the batting order )

[mth123]

Originally Posted by Ron Madden

I believe the biggest problem the Reds have had vs LHP the past few years begins with the Manager.

Far too often Boone, Miley and Narron penciled inferior players into the lineup just because they hit from the rght side of the plate. (Often in spots 1-5 in the batting order )

Excellent post and right on the mark. For all his predetermined faults, I bet Dusty never PHs Juan Castro for Josh Hamilton. Sometimes some players just shouldn't play over other players when performance is the issue (as opposed to rest or injury). Juan Castro shouldn't be a preferred option against RH's, LH's or even if he's allowed to hit off of a tee.

[RedsBaron]

Originally Posted by Kc61

Reds' OPS against lefties last year was .732 one of the worst in the NL.



I still can't understand the decision to dump Cantu. In this master plan Wayne is cooking up I hope there are one or two right handed bats on the way.

I would like to see the Reds add another right handed hitter with some power, but Cantu wasn't necessarily the solution. His career OPS is .762, and in 392 career at bats Cantu's OPS against lefthanders is .737, almost exactly the poor .732 OPS the Reds had as a team against lefties.

[Jpup]

as mentioned numerous times over the past couple of years, Morgan Ensberg would be a good signing.

[PuffyPig]

Originally Posted by Kc61

I still can't understand the decision to dump Cantu.

THis has been discussed many times.

He was going to make $1-1.5M.

There wasn't room on the 25 man roster for him.

He can't hit LH pitching.

[RedsManRick]

For the sake of conversation, here are the stats versus left from 2007. Minimum 25 AB.

		AB	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Jeff Keppinger	69	0.362	0.421	0.565	0.986
Brandon Phillip	208	0.341	0.378	0.606	0.984
Javier Valentin	31	0.290	0.371	0.484	0.855
Norris Hopper	111	0.351	0.385	0.441	0.826
Edwin Encarnaci	155	0.284	0.378	0.426	0.804
Jeff Conine	128	0.266	0.327	0.477	0.803
Adam Dunn	188	0.239	0.353	0.436	0.789
David Ross	117	0.248	0.291	0.470	0.761
Jorge Cantu	29	0.241	0.343	0.414	0.757
Ken Griffey Jr.	191	0.236	0.317	0.419	0.735
Alex Gonzalez	111	0.234	0.315	0.360	0.675
Joey Votto	26	0.269	0.296	0.346	0.642
Juan Castro	31	0.226	0.294	0.323	0.617
Josh Hamilton	72	0.222	0.296	0.292	0.588
Scott Hatteberg	39	0.205	0.244	0.333	0.577
Ryan Freel	112	0.143	0.172	0.250	0.422
Aaron Harang	27	0.074	0.107	0.074	0.181
-----------------------------------------------------
Total		1645	0.261	0.327	0.430	0.757

Ryan Freel alone dropped our team OPS by 20 points in his 112 AB.

[BRM]

Originally Posted by Reds/Flyers Fan

Garret Atkins? His name has been missing from trade discussions this offseason, but with Ian Stewart already ready for 3rd base, and Baker also able to play 3rd in Colorado, I wonder if it's doable. Dan O'Dowd apparantly said earlier this offseason that GA is off the table, but who knows? I'd love to see him in Cincinnati. Then EE could be shipped off to Baltimore. Or Oakland.

The Rockies are talking about working Stewart out at 2B over the winter to make room for him. They are also looking to sign Iguchi to play 2B so who knows what's going on here.

[klw]

Aaron Harang 27 0.074 0.107 0.074 0.181

So Harang only pitches against right handers.